media day Aug. 10, the classmates
slapped each other's backs, giggling
like children as they compared notes
on the silly, serious and mundane
questions they were asked.
"Whatever the depth chart is, every-
one is going to keep working hard and
striving to be the best, but we're help-
ing each other," Drake Johnson said.
"Our running backs corps is very, very
tight. We're not sitting here pushing
each other's heads down. We're trying
to lift each other up and I think that's a
very important dynamic."
The competition in practice is in-
tense, but not vicious. The running
backs are their own biggest cheerlead-
ers, focused on the success of the po-
sition even if it means a lack of indi-
vidual success.
"Our coaches have made it very
clear it's about the team, the team, the
team," Smith said. "I want to be the
guy, but if Derrick's the guy or Drake
or Justice, I'm going to give them all
the help they need."
Perry didn't win the job in 2001 —
the starting role went to B.J. Askew —
but he was the starter in 2002 only after
Askew accepted a move to fullback in
In the first game of the 2013 season, sophomore Derrick Green ran for 58 yards, but he
totaled only 270 rushing yards in his rookie campaign.
PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN
